Customer relationship management mailing apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for sending mailings by using a widget that is integrated with a customer relationship management website, which uses customer data from within the CRM.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A widget ( 640 ) integrated with a customer relationship management website or mobile app( 20 ) for mailing items to customers from within the customer relationship management website or mobile app( 20 ), comprising the steps of:
 indicating that a postcard should be sent ( 210 );   choosing a template ( 220 ) to be used that has been authorized and customized as a usable template;   verifying that all of the necessary contact information needed to send a postcard is present in the customer's record( 230 );   asking for permission to use the amount of credits necessary to send the postcard and gain authorization ( 240 );   sending the postcard data to printer ( 250 ); and   sending the postcard from the printer to the customer ( 260 ).   
     
     
         2 . A customer relationship management website, also referred to herein as a mobile app, or a CRM website or app, ( 20 )(has an integrated and customizable mail sending application ( 30 ); said mail sending application ( 30 ) may be owned by a third party entity ( 60 ), an entity separate from the customer relationship management entity ( 50 ) that may own the app ( 20 );
 said customer relationship management entity ( 50 ) transacts with said third party entity ( 60 );   a user ( 280 ) can order that a postcard ( 660 ) be sent by the step of clicking to send postcard to printer and then customer ( 370 ), and the step of clicking to send postcard to printer and then customer ( 370 ) is managed by a third party entity ( 60 );   said third party entity ( 60 ) manages a transaction ( 470 ), such as a credit card processing transaction ( 470 );   
       said app ( 20 ) can be integrated with an Application Programming Interface (API) ( 80 ) so that when said user ( 280 ) performs the clicking to send post card to printer and then customer ( 370 ) from within a customer record ( 200 ), that customer's data ( 100 ) will populate the necessary merge fields ( 120 ); 
       said CRM website ( 20 ) user ( 280 ) performs the logging in ( 300 ) step to said third party entity ( 60 ) portion of their app separately so that they can use the technology of the third party entity ( 60 ); 
       this allows said user ( 280 ) to see their usage, perform the making postcard template modifications ( 310 ) step, and the step of clicking to send post cards to printer and then customer ( 370 ); 
       there will be a technology built to allow for CRM websites or apps ( 20 ) that use automated triggers ( 170 ) to integrate the step of clicking to send postcard to printer and then customer ( 370 ) as part of the CRM entity's ( 50 ) automated trigger campaigns ( 380 ).